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A review by nadia
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
My second Patrick Radden Keefe of the year — after Say Nothing — and he didn't disappoint.
What I love about Radden Keefe's books is how they read like fiction at times but are packed with so much detail. You can see that he cuts no corners with his research.
I knew nothing about the Sacklers going into this, which added to the intrigue. However, I do think the fact that I could only pick up the book in small bursts, and often when I was feeling tired, impacted my enjoyment. I found it harder to stay focused.
A fantastic book to read if you want to know more about the opioid crisis or the Sackler family, or if you're into narrative nonfiction books that feature multiple generations of one family or themes of corporate fraud/corruption or medicine/pharmaceuticals.
What I love about Radden Keefe's books is how they read like fiction at times but are packed with so much detail. You can see that he cuts no corners with his research.
I knew nothing about the Sacklers going into this, which added to the intrigue. However, I do think the fact that I could only pick up the book in small bursts, and often when I was feeling tired, impacted my enjoyment. I found it harder to stay focused.
A fantastic book to read if you want to know more about the opioid crisis or the Sackler family, or if you're into narrative nonfiction books that feature multiple generations of one family or themes of corporate fraud/corruption or medicine/pharmaceuticals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Suicide